The Dancer of the Nile

The Dancer of the Nile is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by William P.S. Earle and starring Carmel Myers, Malcolm McGregor, and Sam De Grasse.[1] The film was produced in response to the public fascination following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in November 1922.

The Dancer of the Nile
Still with the Princess and her attendants
Directed byWilliam P.S. Earle
Written byBlanche Earle
William P.S. Earle
StarringCarmel Myers
Malcolm McGregor
Sam De Grasse
CinematographyJules Cronjager
Production
company
William P.S. Earle Productions
Distributed byFilm Booking Offices of America
Release date
  • October 28, 1923 (1923-10-28)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,[2] an Egyptian Princess is infatuated with Karmet, a Syrian prince who is disguised as a merchant. He, however, loves Arvia, a dancer. The Princess plots to sacrifice Arvia to the sacred crocodiles. Arvia is saved by her father and united to Karmet. The princess weds Prince Tut, who afterwards becomes King of Egypt.

Cast

Production

To give the film an authentic historical look, the film used double exposures on detailed paintings with blacked areas where actors would be added, and by filming through transparent painted glass for the background settings.[3][4] Originally titled Tutankhamen and produced after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in November 1922, distributors in belief that public interest in the Egyptian king had waned requested a change in the title and plot.[5] As a result, the film was edited to change its focus from Prince Tut to the dancer Arvia.[5]

Preservation

With no copies of The Dancer of the Nile located in any film archives,[6] it is a lost film.

References
  1. Munden p. 162
  2. Pardy, George T. (December 15, 1923). "Feature Previews: The Dancer of the Nile". Exhibitors Trade Review. New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation. 15 (3): 24. Retrieved April 27, 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Cortlett pp. 231-34
  4. Bryan p. 137
  5. Corlett p. 239
  6. Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: The Dancer of the Nile

Bibliography
  • Bryan, Bruce (October 1924). "Movie Realism and Archaeological Fact". Art and Archaeology. Washington, D.C.: Archaeological Institute of America. 18 (4): 131–144.
  • Cortlett, Dudley S. (December 1923). "Art on the Screen; or the Film of Tutankhamen". Art and Archaeology. Washington, D.C.: Archaeological Institute of America. 16 (6): 231–240.
  • Munden, Kenneth White (1997). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1. University of California Press.
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